'Though to you only visible for one hour in the twenty…four； neither day or night does She ever quit you； Nor will She ever quit you till you have granted her request。'
'And what is that request？'
'That She must herself explain： It lies not in my knowledge。 Wait with patience for the night of Saturday： All shall be then cleared up。'
I dared not press him further。 He soon after changed the conversation and talked of various matters。 He named People who had ceased to exist for many Centuries； and yet with whom He appeared to have been personally acquainted。 I could not mention a Country however distant which He had not visited； nor could I sufficiently admire the extent and variety of his information。 I remarked to him that having travelled； seen； and known so much； must have given him infinite pleasure。 He shook his head mournfully。
'No one；' He replied； 'is adequate to comprehending the misery of my lot！ Fate obliges me to be constantly in movement： I am not permitted to pass more than a fortnight in the same place。 I have no Friend in the world； and from the restlessness of my destiny I never can acquire one。 Fain would I lay down my miserable life； for I envy those who enjoy the quiet of the Grave： But Death eludes me； and flies from my embrace。 In vain do I throw myself in the way of danger。 I plunge into the Ocean； The Waves throw me back with abhorrence upon the shore： I rush into fire； The flames recoil at my approach： I oppose myself to the fury of Banditti； Their swords become blunted； and break against my breast： The hungry Tiger shudders at my approach； and the Alligator flies from a Monster more horrible than itself。 God has set his seal upon me； and all his Creatures respect this fatal mark！'
He put his hand to the velvet； which was bound round his forehead。 There was in his eyes an expression of fury； despair； and malevolence； that struck horror to my very soul。 An involuntary convulsion made me shudder。 The Stranger perceived it。
'Such is the curse imposed on me；' he continued： 'I am doomed to inspire all who look on me with terror and detestation。 You already feel the influence of the charm； and with every succeeding moment will feel it more。 I will not add to your sufferings by my presence。 Farewell till Saturday。 As soon as the Clock strikes twelve； expect me at your chamber door。'
Having said this He departed； leaving me in astonishment at the mysterious turn of his manner and conversation。
His assurances that I should soon be relieved from the Apparition's visits produced a good effect upon my constitution。 Theodore； whom I rather treated as an adopted Child than a Domestic； was surprized at his return to observe the amendment in my looks。 He congratulated me on this symptom of returning health； and declared himself delighted at my having received so much benefit from my conference with the Great Mogul。 Upon enquiry I found that the Stranger had already past eight days in Ratisbon： According to his own account； therefore； He was only to remain there six days longer。 Saturday was still at the distance of Three。 Oh！ with what impatience did I expect its arrival！ In the interim； the Bleeding Nun continued her nocturnal visits； But hoping soon to be released from them altogether； the effects which they produced on me became less violent than before。
The wished…for night arrived。 To avoid creating suspicion I retired to bed at my usual hour： But as soon as my Attendants had left me； I dressed myself again； and prepared for the Stranger's reception。 He entered my room upon the turn of midnight。 A small Chest was in his hand； which He placed near the Stove。 He saluted me without speaking； I returned the compliment； observing an equal silence。 He then opened his Chest。 The first thing which He produced was a small wooden Crucifix： He sank upon his knees； gazed upon it mournfully； and cast his eyes towards heaven。 He seemed to be praying devoutly。 At length He bowed his head respectfully； kissed the Crucifix thrice； and quitted his kneeling posture。 He next drew from the Chest a covered Goblet： With the liquor which it contained； and which appeared to be blood； He sprinkled the floor； and then dipping in it one end of the Crucifix； He described a circle in the middle of the room。 Round about this He placed various reliques； sculls； thigh…bones &c； I observed； that He disposed them all in the forms of Crosses。 Lastly He took out a large Bible； and beckoned me to follow him into the Circle。 I obeyed。
'Be cautious not to utter a syllable！' whispered the Stranger； 'Step not out of the circle； and as you love yourself； dare not to look upon my face！'
Holding the Crucifix in one hand； the Bible in the other； He seemed to read with profound attention。 The Clock struck 'One'！ As usual I heard the Spectre's steps upon the Staircase： But I was not seized with the accustomed shivering。 I waited her approach with confidence。 She entered the room； drew near the Circle； and stopped。 The Stranger muttered some words； to me unintelligible。 Then raising his head from the Book； and extending the Crucifix towards the Ghost； He pronounced in a voice distinct and solemn；
'Beatrice！ Beatrice！ Beatrice！'
'What wouldst Thou？' replied the Apparition in a hollow faltering tone。
'What disturbs thy sleep？ Why dost thou afflict and torture this Youth？ How can rest be restored to thy unquiet Spirit？'
'I dare not tell！I must not tell！Fain would I repose in my Grave； but stern commands force me to prolong my punishment！'
'Knowest Thou this blood？ Knowest Thou in whose veins it flowed？
Beatrice！ Beatrice！ In his name I charge thee to answer me！'
'I dare not disobey my taskers。'
'Darest Thou disobey Me？'
He spoke in a commanding tone； and drew the sable band from his forehead。 In spite of his injunctions to the contrary； Curiosity would not suffer me to keep my eyes off his face： I raised them； and beheld a burning Cross impressed upon his brow。 For the horror with which this object inspired me I cannot account； but I never felt its equal！ My senses left me for some moments； A mysterious dread overcame my courage； and had not the Exorciser caught my hand； I should have fallen out of the Circle。
When I recovered myself； I perceived that the burning Cross had produced an effect no less violent upon the Spectre。 Her countenance expressed reverence； and horror； and her visionary limbs were shaken by fear。
'Yes！' She said at length； 'I tremble at that mark！ respect it！I obey you！ Know then； that my bones lie still unburied： They rot in the obscurity of Lindenberg Hole。 None but this Youth has the right of consigning them to the Grave。 His own lips have made over to me his body and his soul： Never will I give back his promise； never shall He know a night devoid of terror； unless He engages to collect my mouldering bones； and deposit them in the family vault of his Andalusian Castle。 Then let thirty Masses be said for the repose of my Spirit； and I trouble this world no more。 Now let me depart！ Those flames are scorching！'
He let the hand drop slowly which held the Crucifix； and which till then He had pointed towards her。 The apparition bowed her head； and her form melted into air。 The Exorciser led me out of the Circle。 He replaced the Bible &c。 in the Chest； and then addressed himself to me； who stood near him speechless from astonishment。
'Don Raymond； you have heard the conditions on which repose is promised you。 Be it your business to fulfil them to the letter。 For me nothing more remains than to clear up the darkness still spread over the Spectre's History； and inform you that when living； Beatrice bore the name of las Cisternas。 She was the great Aunt of your Grandfather： In quality of your relation； her ashes demand respect from you； though the enormity of her crimes must excite your abhorrence。 The nature of those crimes no one is more capable of explaining to you than myself： I was personally acquainted with the holy Man who proscribed her nocturnal riots in the Castle of Lindenberg； and I hold this narrative from his own lips。
'Beatrice de las Cisternas took the veil at an early age； not by her own choice； but at the express command of her Parents。 She was then too young to regret the pleasures of which her profession deprived her： But no sooner did her warm and voluptuous character begin to be developed than She abandoned herself freely to the impulse of her passions； and seized the first opportunity to procure their gratification。 This opportunity was at length presented； after many obstacles which only added new force to her desires。 She contrived to elope from the Convent； and fled to Germany with the Baron Lindenberg。 She lived at his Castle several months as his avowed Concubine： All Bavaria was scandalized by her impudent and abandoned conduct。 Her feasts vied in luxury with Cleopatra's； and Lindenberg became the Theatre of the most unbridled debauchery。 Not satisfied with displaying the incontinence of a Prostitute； She professed herself an Atheist： She took every opportunity to scoff at her monastic vows； and loaded with ridicule the most sacred ceremonies of Religion。
'Possessed of